Character Design Brainstorming: The Holy Man (or Woman)

The Holy Man or Woman may be within the clergy, but that isn't necessarily the case.

They are simply the person that has found enlightenment, or self actualization, depending on how secular your story (and your approach) is.

They are the character that doesn't have all the answers, but has a good few. And for those they don't have the answers, they have the compass for finding them.

This is a pretty challenging character in that they can be very bland, or become the mouthpiece for the author's ideology or views in life.

To an extent, the Holy Man/Woman will reflect what the creator thinks is the right answer to whatever problem is challenging the main characters, but that doesn't need to become preachy or hamfisted. After all, a oerson that has reached a level of self actualization rarely has the need to be preachy when not asked. And even when they ARE asked, they are laconic in their responses.

The challenge with this character is to not forget to give them a personality: that they are holy (or enlightened, or wise, or elevated) does not mean they don't have quirks, humor, preferences, pet hates, fears or even personal issues they are still grappling with.

You might even disagree that what I am discribing is the holy man/woman, because this often is described as the Wise Old Man/Woman rather than the Holy one. However, I've a reasoning for my categorization- that the 'holiness' is well beyond religion. It's about a spiritual, emotional, and mental state that has been reached through personal effort, experiences, and growth. The Holy Man/Woman may not even be religious at all, may be atheist or agnostic, and still be closer to holiness and divinity than they'd like to admit :)

Do you have a holy man/woman in your cast, and what is it that makes them that?

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